Multiple-color pilot light



June 13, 1961 J. G. BAKER 2,988,738

MULTIPLE-COLOR PILOT LIGHT Filed Sept. 1, 1959 INVENTOR. JACOB G. BAKER 2,988,738 MULTIPLE-COLOR PIIST ILIGHT Jacob `G. Baker, P.0. Box `28248,'Dallas, Tex. FiledSept. 11959, Ser. No. 837,533 4 Claims. '(Cl. 340-381) The present invention relates in general to changeable display devices, and'more particularly to multi-color pilot orindicating lights.

The principal object of .the invention disclosed herein is to provide `a pilot or indicating light means whereby colored light, printed messages or symbols, and the like may be selectively displayed kin apermanent or continuously4 changing manner.

A lfurther object of lthe invention *is the provision of novel illumination means which is capable of displaying a plurality of colors or messages with each color ormessage conveying to the viewer distinct signals, decorative effects, quantitive and qualitative data, 'and positioning or progression information.

Another-object ofthe presentinvention is the provision of -a novel indicating lamp for producing a plurality of distinct colors or condi-tions topermit display of a large number of selective conditions with a minimum number of lamps. l

Other objects of this invention are to provide in an indicating light a minimum of moving parts which in turn permit a sizeable reduction in the size and weight of this apparatus over previous indicating lights utilizing multiple lamps and/or fixed color yand message lens and to rfu'rther provide in an indicating light a means for exchanging the lamp from the front side of the mounting panel.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent lfrom the followingdetail description taken in conjunction with the -accompanying drawing illustrating one preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal vertical section view of a light assembly embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation of thecolor lter or printed message support taken on or about vthe line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the principal parts shown in FIGURE 1 and showing with somewhat more clarity their working or functional relationship with each other;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of Ithe electrical circuit andl exemplary for use with the light assembly; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View of the optional lens assembly that permits projection of printed mess-ages and colored light thereon.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like reference charaoters `designate corresponding parts throughout the several gures, the multidcolor light assembly of the present invention, generally indicated by the reference character 10, is housed `within an elongated tubular 4cylindrical shell or housing -11` adapted to iit rinto an acconnnodating opening 12 in a control panel or other suitable supporting panel 13. The cylindrical housing 11 is provided with an outwardly offset formation or lip 14 at its outer end providing a shoulder which will abut the portions of .the control panel 13 bounding the opening 12, and the housing is held in position by a 'lock washer 15 and a nut 16 which may be threaded onto external threads 17 provided on .the outer surface of the `housing 11, or by other conventional locking means.

A tubular shield mount 18 is disposed within Ithe forward portion of the housingtdil -andYhas-an outwardly proiQQting lgfauge. 19 bearing against a shoulder of the offset tematica-.14., The lens 20 having a ange formation at United States Patent 2 the inner end thereofis seated'wit'hin the offset formation 1'4 of the housing "10 'in abutment 'with the lilange 19 and is :secured in position by means of a knurled nut 21. A lamp retainer sleeve 22 is disposed in the central region of the vhousing 11 and is joined to the shield mount 18 by an v V=11 when the nut 21 and lens 20 are-removed -to eect exchange or replacement ofthe lamp Z5 from the iront of 'the control panel 12.

A lamp base terminal or prong 26 is in electrical com- .municati'on at its inner end with the socket 24 land the lamp retainer sleeve 22, and projects through lthe opening 27' in the rear or inner end 28 of the housing 11. Another prong 29 projects through the opening 27 in the rear end of the housing 11 and is connected at its inner end to one end of a coil :30 of a ii'rst electrmag'net 31, the opposite end of the coil 30 being connected to the lamp base terminal 32, whereby, when the'prongs 291and` 26 are connected with ya source of electrical current, current will flow through the prong 29, the electro-magnet coil 30, yand the lamp base terminal 32 through the lamp lil-ament and thence through the base of lamp 2'5, lamp retainer sleeve 22 and socket 24 and prong 26. The electromagnet 31 is provided with a U-sh'aped field vpiece or core 33 having parallel legs 34 land 35 project-ing .to points in the outer or `forward zone of the housing 11. An additional prong 36 {projects through the opening 2/7 in rthe inner end of the housing l11 yand is connected at its inner end to one end of a coil 37 of electromagnet 38 disposed at right angles `to the electromagnet 31, the opposite end of the coil 37 being likewise connected to the lamp base terminal 32. The electromagnet 38 has a U-shaped field piece 0r core 39 having parallel legs I40` and `41 extending forwardly of the housing 11 and arranged in a plane lying perpendicular to the plane of the core legs 34 Iand 35. A waferlike insulator l42 electrically isolates the lamp socket 24 from the base terminal 32 also serves to position and secure the lamp socket 24, base terminal 32, terminal 26 and electromagnet cores 33 and l39. IFurther electrical isolations, component positioning and seal is achieved by encapsulation material `43 and a rear waferlike insulator 44.

The shield mount 118 includes a spherical shield portion 45 disposed to lie between the globe of the lamp 25 and the lens 20 and having an opening 46 therein along the optical axis of the apparatus, and a bracket or web 47 spaced rearwardly from the shield portion 45 and den-ing a zone therebetween for a hemispherical or dome-shaped filter 48. The hemispherical filter A48 is supported for rotation about the axis` of the hemisphere by means of a pivotal mounting shaft or pin 49 held between indentations 50 and 51 in the shield portion 4S and bracket 47 respectively, the indentations 50 and 51 being arranged on an axis inclined upwardly and outwardly from the axis of the cylindrical `housing 11j. The lter 48 includes a permanent magnet 52 imbedded therein preferably arranged along one of the meridians of the hemispherical lter 48, having north and south magnetic Vpoles indicated, for example, by the symbols N and S. in FIGURE 3 `of the` drawing. The lter 48 is divided into a plurality of angularily vspaced zones, such as quadrant sections, indicated, for` example, by the reference characters 53, 54, 55 and: 56 in FIGURES 2 and 3, each of which carries a different color or message so as to modulate the light directed from the lamp 25 toward the lens 20.

The arrangement is such that when current is caused to flow through the coils of either of the electromagnets 31 and 38, a magnetic field is established causing a magnetic polarity at the forward ends of the legs 34, 35 of the core 33 or at legs 40, 41 of the core 39, which reacts upon the permanent magnet 52 imbedded in the filter 48 to orient the filter so as to position a particular one of the differently colored zones 53, 54, 55 or 56 over the opening 46 in the shield portion 45.

There is illustrated in 'FIGURE 4 one typenof electrical circuit which may be used to control the abovedescribed apparatus. In FIGURE 4, the portion of the circuit within the dotted area 57 represents the internal electrical circuit of the illuminating device 10, the prongs 26, 29 and 36 being the electrical exits from the apparatus 10. These may be connected in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 with a pair of ganged switches 58, 59, the stationary contacts of which are connected with the prongs 26, 29 and 36 in the manner illustrated and the movable contacts of which are connected with a suitable power source indicated by the reference character 60. By rotation of the movable contacts of the gang switches 58, 59 to any one of the four quadrature related positions, the supply voltage can be supplied to the coils of the electromagnet 31 or 38 in a selected manner to position any one of the four differently colored zones 53, 54, 55, 56 in alignment with the shield opening 46.

Thus, for example, if the movable contact arms of the gang switches 58, 59 are in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4, a circuit will be established from the negative terminal of the battery 60 to the prong 36 connected to one end of the coil 37 of electromagnet 38, the other end of which is connected through the lamp 25 and prong 26 to the positive terminal of the battery 60. This will establish a magnetic field of appropriate polarity between the ends of the legs 40, 41 of the core 39 which will cause the permanent magnet 52 imbedded in the filter 48 to react and position the zone 53 in alignment with the shield opening 46 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. Upon shifting of the movable contact members of the gang switches 58, 59 in a clockwise direction through 90, current will be applied from the battery 60 in an opposite direction through the coil of the electromagnet 31 establishing a certain magnetic field between the legs 34, 35 of the core 33, causing the permanent magnet 52 to shift the filter 48 to another angular position aligning a different zone with the shield opening 46.

Under certain conditions a resistor R of suitable value may be installed in parallel with the lamp 25 to permit sufficient flow of current through electromagnets 31 or 38. There is illustrated in FIGURE 5 an optional lens assembly, indicated by the reference character 20', which may be substituted `for the lens 20, which cornprises an outer lens member 61 having the same exterior configuration as the lens 20 but which includes suitable optics indicated at 62 to permit projection of color and printed symbols upon the outer face 63 of the lens body 61.

While but one specific embodiment of the present invention has been particularly shown and described, it will be apparent that various modifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A changeable illuminating device comprising a housing, a lens at one end of the housing, a source of light arranged within said housing for directing light rays through said lens, a filter member having a substantially circular periphery and a centrally disposed point of rotation and including a plurality of angularly spaced light modulating zones each of a different character disposed between said point of rotation and said periphery, means for pivotally supporting said filter member at said point of rotation Within said housing for rotation about an axis to interpose said light modulating zones one at a time between said light source and said lens to modulate said light rays, said filter member including a magnet means having opposite poles disposed at spaced angular positions on said filter member occupying a fixed position relative to said zones and responsive to the polarity and orientation of a magnetic field within said housing to position said filter member about its pivot, magnetic field generating means located within said housing having pole pieces extending to a plurality of different angular positions relative to the axis of rotation of said filter member, and means and selectively activating said magnetic field generating means for shifting the polarity and orientation of the magnetic field produced by said field generating means to produce forces through combinations of attractive and repulsive magnetic coaction of the poles of said magnet means and the fields generated by said pole pieces for shifting said said filter member so as to dispose selected light modulating zones in intercepting relation to said light rays.

2. A changeable illuminating device comprising a housing, a lens at one end of the housing, a source of light arranged within said housing for directing light rays through said lens, a filter member having a plurality of angularly spaced light modulating zones each of a different character, means for pivotally supporting said filter member within said housing for rotation about an axis to dispose said light modulating zones one at a time between said light source and said lens in intercepting relation to said light rays, said filter member including magnet means having opposite poles disposed at diametrically opposite points on said filter member relative to the pivotal axis thereof and occupying a fixed position relative to said zones, magnetic field generating means disposed within said housing having pole pieces extending to a plurality of different angular positions relative to the axis of said lter member, and means for selectively activating said magnetic field generating means to establish magnetic fields arranged at a plurality of selected angular orientations and polarities relative to the axis of said filter member and thereby produce forces through combinations of attractive and repulsive magnetic coaction of the poles of said magnet means and the fields generated by said pole pieces for shifting said filter member to positions interposing selected ones of said light modulating zones in intercepted relation to said light rays.

3. A changeable illuminating device comprising an elongated tubular cylindrical housing, a lens at one end of said housing, a lamp disposed in said housing intermediate the ends thereof for directing light rays through said lens, a hemispherical filter member having a plurality of light modulating zones each of a different character positioned at different angular positions about the center of said filter member, means for pivotally supporting said filter member at the center thereof within said housing for rotation about an axis inclined to the axis of said housing to -interpose different ones of said light modulating zones between said lamp and said lens to modulate said light rays upon rotation of said filter member about its pivotal axis, said filter member including a magnet occupying a fixed position relative to said zones and having opposite poles spaced at diametrically opposite points relative to the pivotal axis of said filter member, magnetic field generating means located within said housing, and means for shifting the polarity and orientation of the magnetic field produced by said field generating means to force said magnet to position said filter member about its pivotal axis to dispose selected light modulating zones in intercepting relation to said light rays.

4. A changeable illuminating device comprising an elongated tubular cylindrical housing, a lens at one end of said housing, a lamp disposed in said housing intermediate the ends thereof for directing light rays through said lens, a hemispherical filter member having a plurality of light modulating zones each of a different character positioned at different angular positions about the center of said filter member, means for pivotally supporting said filter member at the center thereof Within said housing for rotation about an axis inclined to the axis of said housing to interpose different ones of said light modulating zones between said lamp and said lens to modulate said light rays upon rotation of said filter member about its pivotal aX-is, said filter member including a magnet occupying a fixed position relative to said zones and having opposite poles spaced at diametrically opposite points relative to the pivotal axis of said filter member, a first electromagnet having a core including a pair of parallel legs terminating adjacent the periphery of said filter member for establishing a magnetic field oriented along a first field axis extending normal t0 the axis of rotation of said filter member, a second electromagnet having a core including a pair of parallel legs terminating adjacent the periphery of said filter member for establishing a magnetic field oriented along a second field axis extending normal to the axis of rotation of said filter member and located at right angles to said rst field axis, and means for selectively energizing said electromagnets to establish magnetic fields along either of said first and second eld axes and means for reversing the polarity of said magnetic fields to produce magnetic field conditions within said housing for forcing said magnet and its associated filter member to selected angular positions `about the pivotal axis thereof to dispose selected ones of said light modulating zones in intercepting relation to said light rays.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,368 Douglas Septl 7, 1937 2,218,074 Smith Oct. 15, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 161,704 Switzerland July 17, 1933 

